At the 74th session of the UN General Assembly, 2021 was declared the International Year of Creative Economy for Sustainable Development. The proposal was presented by a global grouping of countries, including Australia, China, India, Indonesia, Mongolia, the Philippines, and Thailand – although the main sponsor came from Indonesia.

The proposal stated: the need to promote sustained and inclusive economic growth, foster innovation, and provide opportunities, benefits, and empowerment for all and respect for all human rights.  Further identified: the ongoing need to support developing countries and countries with economies in transition in diversifying production and exports, including in new sustainable growth areas, including creative industries.

In that sense, the initiative encourages all to observe the year in accordance with national priorities to raise awareness, promote cooperation and networking, encourage sharing best practices and experiences, enhance human resource capacity, promote an enabling environment at all levels as well as tackle the challenges of the creative economy. 

Find out further details, news, features publications, etc by clicking: https://unctad.org/topic/trade-analysis/creative-economy-programme/2021-year-of-the-creative-economy and/or https://en.unesco.org/news/international-year-creative-economy-sustainable-development